Composite washer

ABSTRACT

A composite washer having a dome-shaped metal member and a resilient member such as neoprene bonded thereto. The resilient member comprises two components, the first of which is bonded to the metal member along its bottom surface at the high portion of the dome and substantially adjacent the central opening, and the second component is positioned in partially overlapping relationship with the first component and is also bonded to the metal member along the bottom surface and radially removed from the washer central opening. The metal member is shaped to restrict the resilient member from moving radially outward and to urge a radially inward movement.

United States Patent J ellison 1451 June 20, 1972 [54] COMPOSITE WASHER[72] Inventor: Paul J Jellison, Pittsburgh, Pa. [73] Assignee: Textron,Inc., Providence, RI.

[22] Filed: Oct. 2, 1970 [21] Appl. No.: 77,610

521 u.s. ci. 85/1JP,85/50,277/l66, 277/233 51 Int.Cl...Fl6b35/00,Fl6b43/00 [58] Field of Search ....85/l JP, 1 R, 50 R, 9 R;151/38, 7; 277/233, 234, 227, 228, 166, 189, 178

Greeno Cohen et al ..85/1 JP 2,761,347 9/1956 McKee ..85/1 JP 3,452,6367/1969 Cohenetal ..85/1JP Primary Examiner-Ramon S. Britts Anorneywebb,Burden, Robinson & Webb ABSTRACT A composite washer having a dome-shapedmetal member and a resilient member such as neoprene bonded thereto. Theresilient member comprises two components, the first of which is bondedto the metal member along its bottom surface at the high portion of thedome and substantially adjacent the central opening, and the secondcomponent is positioned in partially overlapping relationship with thefirst component and is also bonded to the metal member along the bottomsurface and radially removed from the washer central opening. The metalmember is shaped to restrict the resilient member from moving radiallyoutward and to urge a radially inward movement.

9 Claims, 5 Drawing figures COMPOSITE WASHER This invention relates tosealing washers and, more particularly, to a dome-shaped compositewasher having an over lapping two component resilient member.

A large number of sealing washers are available in today's market place.Many of these sealing washers are of the composite type in that theyinclude a metal member and a resilient member with the latter being of amaterial such as neoprene. These various sealing washers are availablein a large number of shapes and functional designs, but the need forimproved sealing washers persists, and it is in this area of improvementthat I have directed my invention.

My composite washer, in general, increases resistance to crushing orflattening while at the same time increases the sealing ability.Further, because of the particular shape, my

I composite washer permits conformity to more irregular shapes ofworkpieces than presently known sealing washers. By employing two plysof thickness of the resilient member at the high dome portion of thewasher, I am able to get this increased seal. By providing a differentcontour on the upper surface of the dome-shaped washer than the lowersurface, my washeraccommodates heavy loading without concern forupturned ends or defaced finishes on the workpiece. In addition, becauseof the contour of the metal member, the resilient member is urged inwardtoward the shank of a fastener for improved sealing. And still further,by adopting annular grooves in the resilient layer, I have furtherincreased sealing resiliency resulting from increased loading and morepermissible radial flexing during axial compression.

My invention is a composite washer having a dome-shaped metal memberwith a central opening therethrough and a resilient member. Theresilient member, which is a material such as neoprene, is in twocomponents which overlap at the high portion of the dome of the metalmember. The resilient member is bonded to the metal member along bothcomponents of the resilient member. An annular groove may be employed inthe bottom surface of the resilient component radially removed from thecentral opening. An additional annular peripheral lip can be added tothe metal member to aid in the control of the movement of the resilientmember upon tightening.

In the accompanying drawings, I have shown the presently preferredembodiments of my invention in which:

FIG. 1 is an elevation of my composite washer;

FIG. 2 is a full section of my composite washer;

FIG. 3 is a full section of my composite washer having an annulargroove;

FIG. 4 is a partial section showing my composite washer in combinationwith a fastener; and

FIG. 5 is a full section of my composite washer having a downwardlyextending peripheral lip.

My composite washer includes a metal member generally designated and aresilient member, generally designated 11. The resilient member 11 canbe a variety of different materials, but neoprene has been found veryeffective as a sealant.

The metal member 10 of the composite washer is substantiallydome-shaped, see FIG. 1, and has a central opening therethrough. Theupper surface 14 of the metal member 10 is double bent outwardly betweenthe high portion of the dome and the washer periphery, as shown at 16 inFIGS. 1 and 2, to permit loading and the avoidance of upturned edges.

Resilient member 11 comprises two components. The first component 12 isbonded to and along bottom surface 15 of the metal member 10 and ispositioned in the area adjacent the central opening 20. For improvedsealing and for retention on a fastener, component 12 actually radiallyextends slightly into opening 20. The second component 13 is bonded toand along the bottom surface 17 of metal member 10 and is positionedradially outward, i.e.,spaced from central opening 20. As will bedescribed hereinafter, component 13 terminates inward from the outerperiphery of metal member 10. Component I3 overlaps component 12 in thevicinity of the high dome portion of member 10.

Bottom surfaces 17 and 15, in combination, define the inner surface ofthe metal member 10. Both surfaces 17 and 15 are inclined upward to thecentral opening 20. At the same time, resilient component 13 is likewiseupwardly inclined; and as described, component 13 terminates inward fromthe peripheral edge of member 10 and surface 17. Therefore, upontightening a fastener positioned in the opening 20 into a workpiece, theresilient member 111 is compressed and is deformed inwardly toward thecentral opening 20. Generally, upon complete tightening, the resilientmember 11 will completely fill the dome area of the washer, the areaadjacent the shank in the vicinity of central opening 20 and the areaabout the threads of the fastener. Because resilient member 1 lterminates inward of the metal members outer periphery and because ofthe inward deformation of resilient member 11, the outer periphery ofmetal member 10 approaches and contacts the workpiece thereby preventingany of the resilient component 13 from extending radially outward beyondthe periphery of metal member 10.

It can be seen in FIG. 2 that resilient components 13 and 12 actuallyrepresent two plys or thicknesses of the resilient member at the highdome portion of the washer. This, along with the inward urging of theresilient component 13 upon tightening, and the extended portion of theresilient component 12 into opening 20, substantially increases sealingin the areas thereabout, including about the shank of a fastener which,of course, represent the critical areas for sealing.

It can also be seen that the smooth contour of bottom surfaces 15 and 17and second component 13, as compared to the double bent upper surface 14of metal member 10, permits rapid adaptability to various contouredworkpieces yet, at the same time, providing the aforementionedresistance to edge turnup upon increased loading.

To increase the sealing resiliency, both in terms of receiving increasedloading and increased radlial flexing during axial compression, anannular groove 18 can be positioned within second component 13 ofresilient member 1 1, see FIG. 3. This groove 18 is positioned aboutmidway between the ends of component 13.

As stated hereinbefore, the resilient member 12 extends radially inwardinto the central opening 20, not only to improve sealing along the shankof a fastener, but also to retain the fastener. In FIG. 4, l have shownsuch a fastener-washer combination. The fastener 21 is positioned in thecentral opening 20 of my composite washer. The resilient component 12which extends radially inward beyond the surface which defines opening20 in metal member grips the fastener 21. Therefore, the compositewasher can be easily preassembled with different types of fasteners anddistributed in that manner.

My composite washer may further contain a downwardly dependingperipheral lip portion 22 as a part of the metal member 10, see FIG. 5.This lip portion 22 overhangs the recessed resilient component 13 sothat upon tightening, further means are provided to prevent theresilient member 13 from deforming outwardly beyond the periphery ofmetal member 10.

While I have shown and described preferred embodiments of my invention,it may be otherwise embodied within the scope of the appended claims.

I claim 1. A composite washer comprising a dome-shaped metal member anda resilient member, said dome-shaped metal member having top and bottomsurfaces and a central opening therethrough, said resilient memberhaving two components, the first component being bonded to the metalmember along the bottom surface thereof and extending from substantiallyadjacent the central opening to a point substantially inward of theouter periphery of the metal member, and the second component being inpartially overlapping relationship with said first component, saidsecond component also being bonded to the metal member along the bottomsurface thereof and being positioned radially removed outward from thecentral opening and terminating short of the outer periphery of themetal member, said overlap being in a high portion of the dome.

2. The composite washer of claim 1 wherein the first component extendsradially inward into the central opening.

3. The composite washer of claim 1 wherein the second component has anannular groove in its bottom surface.

4. The composite washer of claim 1 wherein the upper surface of themetal member is double bent in the area between the high portion of thedome and the outer periphery.

5. The composite washer of claim 1 wherein the inner surface of themetal member is inclined upwardly toward the central opening so thatupon tightening of a fastener positioned within the central opening intoa workpiece, the resilient member is urged toward the central openingand away from the outer periphery of the metal member.

6. The composite washer of claim 1 wherein the metal member terminatesalong its periphery in a downwardly extending annular lip so that, uponcompression, the resilient member is prevented from deforming radiallyoutward beyond the metal member.

7. The composite washer of claim 3 wherein the annular groove ispositioned substantially midway between the ends of the secondcomponent.

8. In combination, a fastener and a washer, said washer including adome-shaped metal member and a two component resilient member, saiddome-shaped metal member having top and bottom surfaces and a centralopening therethrough, the first component being bonded to the metalmember along the bottom surface thereof and extending from radiallywithin the central opening to a point substantially inward of the outerperiphery of the metal member, and the second component being inpartially overlapping relationship in the area of a high portion of thedome with said first component, said second component also being bondedto the metal member along the bottom surface thereof and beingpositioned radially removed outward from the central opening andterminating short of the outer periphery of the metal member, thefastener extending through the central opening and the washer beingretained on the fastener by means of the portion of the first componentextending radially into the central opening.

9. The combination of claim 8 characterized by the resilient membercompletely filling the dome portion and the area adjacent the fastenerin the central opening, including the area adjacent threads of thefastener when the combination is in a tightened position with respect toa workpiece.

1. A composite washer comprising a dome-shaped metal member and aresilient member, said dome-shaped metal member having top and bottomsurfaces and a central opening therethrough, said resilient memberhaving two components, the first component being bonded to the metalmember along the bottom surface thereof and extending from substantiallyadjacent the central opening to a point substantially inward of theouter periphery of the metal member, and the second component being inpartially overlapping relationship with said first component, saidsecond component also being bonded to the metal member along the bottomsurface thereof and being positioned radially removed outward from thecentral opening and terminating short of the outer periphery of themetal member, said overlap being in a high portion of the dome.
 2. Thecomposite washer of claim 1 wherein the first component extends radiallyinward into the central opening.
 3. The composite washer of claim 1wherein the second component has an annular groove in its bottomsurface.
 4. The composite washer of claim 1 wherein the upper surface ofthe metal member is double bent in the area between the high portion ofthe dome and the outer periphery.
 5. The composite washer of claim 1wherein the inner surface of the metal member is inclined upwardlytoward the central opening so that upon tightening of a fastenerpositioned within the central opening into a workpiece, the resilientmember is urged toward the central opening and away from the outerperiphery of the metal member.
 6. The composite washer of claim 1wherein the metal member terminates along its periphery in a downwardlyextending annular lip so that, upon compression, the resilient member isprevented from deforming radially outward beyond the metal member. 7.The composite washer of claim 3 wherein the annular groove is positionedsubstantially midway between the ends of the second component.
 8. Incombination, a fastener and a washer, said washer including adome-shaped metal member and a two component resilient member, saiddome-shaped metal member having top and bottom surfaces and a centralopening therethrough, the first component being bonded to the metalmember along the bottom surface thereof and extending from radiallywithin the central opening to a point substantially inward of the outerperiphery of the metal member, and the second component being inpartially overlapping relationship in the area of a high portion of thedome with said first component, said second component also being bondedto the metal member along the bottom surface thereof and beingpositioned radially removed outward from the central opening andterminating short of the outer periphery of the metal member, thefastener extending through the central opening and the washer beingretained on the fastener by means of the portion of the first componentextending radially into the central opening.
 9. The combination of claim8 characterized by the resilient member completely filling the domeportion and the area adjacent the fastener in the central opening,including the area adjacent threads of the fastener when the combinationis in a tightened position with respect to a workpiece.